• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.319-327
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• 1994

Background: The pathogenetic mechanism of adult respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) is not clearly defined yet, but it is well known that increased pulmonary capillary permeabilty is characteristic feature of ARDS. The increased alveolar-capillary permeability is usually preceded by damage of pulmonary artery endothelial cells. The released enzymes and oxygen free radicals from the activated neutrophils seem to play a predominant role in endothelial cell cytotoxicity. The activated neutrophils, however, probably are not the sole contributing factor in this type of damage because many cases of ARDS have been reported in severe neutropenia. Bacterial endotoxin perse and/or oxygen free radicals released from endothelial cells are suggested to be possible factors that contribute to the development of ARDS. The purpose of this study is to investigate the direct cytotoxicity of endotoxin and the role of oxygen free radicals released from the endothelial cells in endotoxin-induced endothelial cell cytotoxicity. Methods: First, to investigate whether endotoxin is cytotoxic to HUVE by itself, various doses of endotoxin were added to culture medium and cytotoxicity was measured. Second, to evaluate the possible role of oxygen free radical in endotoxin-induced HUVE cytotoxicity, various antioxidants were added on the endotoxin-induced HUVE cytotoxicity and cytotoxicity was measured. Third, to verify the release of oxygen free radicals from HUVE, the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in the endotoxin-treated culture supernatant were measured. Finally, to observe the cytotoxic effect of hydrogen peroxide, HUVE cytotoxicity in the presence of various doses of hydrogen peroxide was measured. The fourth generations of subcultured HUVE from primary culture were used. The cell cytotoxicity was quantified by the chromium-51 release assay. Results: 1) Endotoxin alone showed HUVE cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent fashion. 2) Endotoxin-induced HUVE cytotoxicity was significantly attenuated by the pretreatment of catalase and DMTU. 3) Hydrogen peroxide was released from HUVE after endotoxin treatment in a dose-dependent fashion. 4) Exogenous hydrogen peroxide also showed HUVE cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent fashion. Conclusion: These results suggest that endotoxin alone can directly injure HUVE, and, oxygen-free radicals released from HUVE in response to endotoxin may also participate in the endotoxin-induced HUVE cytotoxicity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.4
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• pp.231-233
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• 2012

Tadalafil is a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5I), which is widely used to treat erectile dysfunction. Although PDE5Is have excellent safety profiles, and most of the side effects are mild, rare serious adverse events have been reported in association with PDE5Is. Thrombosis is one of those events, and a few previous reports have suggested the association of PDE5Is with thrombosis. We report the case of a 61-year-old male who developed pulmonary embolism combined with pulmonary infarction directly after taking tadalafil. Both the patient and the physician suspected tadalafil as the culprit drug, as the patient was in an otherwise healthy condition. However, after extensive evaluation, we noticed that factor VIII levels were elevated. Prior reports suggesting the association between thrombosis and PDEIs either lack complete information on coagulation factors, or show inconsistencies in their results. Physicians should operate caution prior to accepting the diagnosis of adverse drug reaction.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.203-208
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• 1997

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma arising in lung comprises 0.5% of primary lung tumor and 3% of extranodal lymphoma. The most common radiographic abnormalities of pulmonary lymphoma include pulmonary nodule and consolidation, but hilar lymphadenopathy is rarely observed Recently we experienced primary pulmonary T-cell lymphoma presenting with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathies and diffuse pulmonary infiltration A 39-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of fever, cough, and severe dyspnea. Chest PA obtained on admission revealed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathies and diffuse bilateral pulmonary infiltration. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis was strongly suggested and empirical treatment with corticosteroids resulted in dramatic clinical and radiological improvement for a short time. Eventually, CT-guided lung biopsy was performed and the specimen disclosed primary pulmonary Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of T-cell origin, diffuse small lymphocytic with focal plasmacytoid differentiation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.294-298
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• 2007

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a rare disorder that is characterized by the abundant accumulation of surfactant-derived material within the alveolar spaces and distal bronchioles. Although the findings of homogenous ground-glass opacities overlaid by thickened septa, which form a "crazy paving" pattern on high-resolution computed tomography, can assist in making a diagnosis, a lung biopsy is usually required. This disorder has a variable clinical course, from spontaneous resolution to respiratory failure and death. While a whole lung lavage has been the standard treatment since the early 1960s, GM-CSF therapy has been attempted based on the recently suggested pathogenetic mechanism. We report a case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis that resolved spontaneously after an open lung biopsy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.96-101
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• 1996

Hughes-Stovin Syndrome is an exceedingly rare combination of distal pulmonary arterial aneurysm and deep vein thrombosis, mostly found in young patients. There are striking similarities between the vascular manifestation of Behçet's disease and Hughes-Stovin Syndrome. It has been suggested that they may have a similar pathogenesis. Most patients died of massive hemoptysis due to rupture of aneurysm. Recently we have experienced the first case of Hughes-Stovin Syndrome in Korea. A 37 year old male patient was admitted because of recurrent hemoptysis and intermittent fever. He had a history of recurrent aphthous ulcers and erythema nodosum-like skin rash, But no other findings of Behcet's disease was found. Angiography showed multiple pulmonary arterial aneurysm and deep vein thrombosis in Right lower extremity. Histologic examination of specimens of open lung biopsy revealed leukocytoclastic angiitis. Pulmonary arterial aneurysms were successfully treated by coil embolization and he is in good condition with corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide therapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2004

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for men and women in the industrialized world. It is desirable to detect disease at a stage when it is not causing symptoms and when control or cure is possible. If the screening test detects patients with the disease at an early stage, they can be examined to confirm the diagnosis and intervention can alter the natural history of the disease. The results of screening programs designed to detect early lung cancer using either conventional chest radiograph or sputum cytology are disappointing for a diagnostic screening test. Because of advances in helical CT imaging techniques, screening for lung cancer has been suggested as a possible method of improving outcome. Findings in recent publications suggest that substantial dose reduction is possible in chest CT. The advantages of low-dose CT are more sensitive than chest radiograph for detecting small pulmonary nodules that may be lung cancers, shorter scanning time than conventional chest CT scan without intravenous contrast injection, cheaper cost than standard CT, low radiation dose. However, the true clinical significance of the small tumors found by screening is still unknown, and their effect on mortality awaits future investigation. Furthermore, in addition to detecting an increased number of lung cancers, low-dose CT found at least one indeterminate nodule in many of all screened patients. The majority should be benign but evaluation of all these indeterminate nodules is not a trivial problem in routine practice. In conclusion, lung cancer screening with low-dose CT is a complex subject. The true effectiveness of lung cancer screening (a reduction in mortality from lung cancer) with low-dose CT can be determined through well-designed randomized control trials with enrolment of appropriate subjects.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.6
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• pp.511-515
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• 2011

The fat-forming variant of solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) is a rare soft tissue neoplasm that was previously referred to as a lipomatous hemangiopericytoma (L-HPC). The most common affected site is deep soft tissue. Here, we present the first case, worldwide, of a fat-forming variant of SFT of the pleura. A 74-year-old man presented with left lower chest pain. Chest radiographs showed a mass-like lesion at the left lower lung field and chest computed tomography revealed a 12 cm fat-containing enhancing mass that was well-separated, lobulated and inhomogeneous. Radiology findings suggested a liposarcoma. Percutaneous needle biopsy was performed and pathological diagnosis of the mass was a fat-forming variant of SFT. Surgical resection was carried out and there has been no recurrence to date. So, a benign fat-forming variant of SFT must be considered as one of the differential diagnoses of lipomatous tumors of the pleura.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.161-165
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• 2001

Acute bilateral reexpansion pulmonary edema after pleurocentesis is a rare complication. In one case, bilateral reexpansion pulmonary edema after unilateral pleurocentensis in sarcoma was reported. Various hypotheses regarding the mechanism of reexpansion pulmonary edema include increased capillary permeability due to hypoxic injury, decreased surfactant production, altered pulmonary perfusion and mechanical stretching of the membranes. Ragozzino et al suggested that the mechanism leading to unilateral reexpansion pulmonary edema involves the opposite lung when there is significant contralateral lung compression. Here we report a case of bilateral reexpansion pulmonary edema and acute respiratory distress syndrome after a unilateral pleurocentesis of a large pleural effusion with contralateral lung compression and increased interstitial lung marking underlying chronic liver disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.466-470
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• 2008

A factor VII gene -401 G/A polymorphism was identified in a patient with a pulmonary embolism. The patient was a 71-year-old woman who presented with acute-onset dyspnea. A chest CT scan revealed a pulmonary embolism. Despite the administration of low-dose warfarin as anticoagulation therapy, there was an excessively prolonged prothrombin time (PT). The blood tests revealed lower factor VII activity than normal. Full factor VII gene sequencing revealed a G to A substitution at -401 in the promoter region. There were no other gene sequence anomalies. PCR-based analysis indicated lower factor VII gene expression in the patient than in a control subject. The data suggested the promoter polymorphism to be responsible for the lower transcription level. In conclusion, we encountered a case of Factor VII DNA polymorphism in a patient with a pulmonary embolism showing significantly reduced Factor VII activity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.670-675
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• 1994

Lipoid pneumonia is a chronic inflammatory reaction of the lungs that results from the aspiration of vegetable, animal, or mineral oils. The most frequently implicated agent is mineral oil used as a laxative and to reduce dysphagia. Lipoid pneumonia is suggested when there is a history of chronic oral or intranasal use of an oil- or lipid-based product. The characteristic findings of lipid materials in CT or MRI are used in the diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia. The presence of lipid-laden macrophages in the sputum, bronchoalveolar larvage or pulmonary parenchymal biopsy confirms the diagnosis. Sputum study is simple and inexpensive. We report a case of lipoid pneumonia of 75 year old male with cough and sputum, confirmed by sputum study, and review the literature.